A Secret Surrender - Darcy Burke Page 0,20

or alignment. Love could be present, but not necessarily.” While Selina always tried to tell her clients what they wanted to hear, she did not want to encourage the countess to push her and Mr. Sheffield together. Ironically, the card as she read it was still accurate, since she and Mr. Sheffield did have a partnership.

Lady Aylesbury pursed her lips. “Go on.”

Selina turned over the next card and felt a bit of relief. “The Ten of Wands. This is almost certainly about your son as it signifies a great burden or someone who is working too hard.”

“That is definitely Harry. Could it also be Lady Gresham?”

Yes, it most certainly could. Selina’s relief evaporated. She didn’t like these cards today. They were far too accurate. “It could mean both of them, but we know it relates to your son, so let’s assume it is him.”

“That makes sense. Lady Gresham is focused on launching her sister in Society. Perhaps that is a burden to her since she is new to town. I shall endeavor to help her. My daughters quite liked her sister and are keen to provide assistance. They are trying to get her a voucher to Almack’s. Perhaps you should read that next.” Lady Aylesbury waved her hand. “No, no, I’m getting distracted, as I am wont to do.” She laughed. “Please, continue.”

Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all, if it meant the countess would help Beatrix in her quest to become the most popular young lady in town. Selina took a deep breath and turned over the third and final card.

The Tower.

She liked this card least of all as it likely pertained to her. Rather the woman, Lady Gresham, that Lady Aylesbury was inquiring about with regard to her son. It could mean many things—change, disruption, conflict, but inescapably, it represented a threat. Withdrawing her shaking hands from the table to her lap, Selina reminded herself that she didn’t believe any of this.

“Well, that’s a rather distressing-looking card,” Lady Aylesbury said, frowning down at the figures who were falling from a flaming tower. “I was hoping for the Lovers.”

Selina might have laughed if the Tower hadn’t so unsettled her. The fire reminded her of the fire that had killed her brother. Was her life to come to an end soon too? She hadn’t felt physically threatened in a very long time—not since after she’d left Mrs. Goodwin’s seminary and taken that awful position as governess.

After that, she’d gone to great lengths to ensure that she and Beatrix would always be safe from harm. Nothing had changed on that front. She forced herself to take another, deeper breath.

No matter the cards she drew, Selina always strove to weave a story that would please her client. If she didn’t, they wouldn’t return, nor would they encourage their friends to come. She thought of what she could say about the Tower relative to Lady Aylesbury’s question. “This could very well represent the change to both your son’s and Lady Gresham’s lives should they come together.”

“Can you draw just one more?” Lady Aylesbury asked, her voice rife with concern. She put a great deal of trust in these pieces of paper.

“Yes, let’s.” Selina often did this when the final card drawn wasn’t satisfactory. It made no difference to her, but today it did. She liked that Tower card even less than Lady Aylesbury did.

Dread mixed with anticipation as she turned over a fourth card.

The Star.

Lady Aylesbury smiled broadly. “That looks promising!”

“Illumination, hope, renewal. This card could signal a beginning for them.” Selina forced the words out while her heart beat heavy in her chest. She knew this card was for her—except she didn’t believe in this!

Maybe she wanted to believe it this time. The possibility of hope and light, for an unburdened future, was a heady thought. And one Selina oughtn’t indulge in.

She swept up the cards. “What is your second question?”

Lady Aylesbury’s gaze had settled on the wall behind Selina, and now she startled. Blinking, she refocused on Selina. “Oh yes, just a moment. So, it seems there is some sort of association between Harry and Lady Gresham, and perhaps the change of the Tower means Harry will stop working so hard—as seen in the Ten of Wands. Because he and Lady Gresham will start a new life together.” The countess looked at Selina in question. She typically provided a summation of the reading for the client, but in her distress she hadn’t. Thankfully, Lady Aylesbury had done a better job than